In the resolution released Friday, the panel gave weight to Kerwin Espinosa’s confession at the Senate—the transcript of which was submitted to the investigating prosecutors for the new probe—and Marcelo Adorco’s positive identification of Peter Lim.

Last year, the DOJ dismissed the case of drug trading against the accused, citing weak evidence presented by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. This dismissal drew heavy criticism from the public

Former justice chief Vitaliano Aguirre II stood by the prosecutors and said that the Philippine National Police should have asked for a transcript of Espinosa’s confession at the Senate. He resigned amid the controversy.

In the resolution released Friday, the panel gave weight to Espinosa’s confession at the Senate—the transcript of which was submitted to the investigating prosecutors for the new probe—and Marcelo Adorco’s positive identification of Lim.

The DOJ, citing the prosecutors, said that the “gravamen” or the most serious part of allegation in the charge of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading is the “agreement to trade in drugs.”

“The drugs themselves as corpus delicti (“body of crime”) of drug trading are not essential under Section 26(b) of the law,” the DOJ added.

The panel also said Lim’s defense that he is not “Jaguar.” The businessman said that he even presented himself before the National Bureau of Investigation earlier to clear his name.

An individual that goes by the name “Jaguar” is under the government’s narco list.

But the panel said that Lim’s defense is “immaterial” as he was positively identified by Adorco and Espinosa.

“[H]is alibi that he could not have possibly been in Thailand during the time attested by Adorco has to yield to the positive and affirmative statements of said witness,” the DOJ said.

Newly-crowned WBA bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. said yesterday his next fight against WBO titlist Zolani Tete of South Africa will likely be held in Asia with Manila an option to host the World Boxing Super Series semifinal on the way to determining a unified ruler in the 118-pound division.

South Korea and the United States on Monday resumed small-scale military training that was indefinitely suspended following an historic summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

President Xi Jinping on Monday will open a Shanghai import fair intended as a signal by China that its markets are open despite mounting criticism to the contrary and the worsening trade war with Washington.